MissTtravels

A new post each day seems like a good idea…

A very long day in the bus. We are doing very civilised 9.30 starts. We headed north and spent the day watching local craftspeople work. The first village was called Nirona.

We first learned about a fabric painting technique called Rogan. The paint is a mixture of castor oil gum (the castor oil is grown locally) mixed with pigment. The paint is applied with a very fine stylus. Beautiful patterns.

Of course, we had to buy some…

Next we watched a man making cowbells from scrap metal. They also use copper and bronze. The bells can be tuned to individual sounds, and are used to identify the owner of a herd of sheep, goats, camels or whatever. So fascinating to watch a flat piece of metal being hammered into shape.

After completion, the bells are coated with a fine crumb of scrap metal and then get a thin coating of damp clay and cotton fibres.

They are then fired in a kiln. The metal/clay coating is then chipped and washed off, and the result is really pretty patination. They get a bit more hammering for tuning, and the wooden clanger bit is added.

Again, purchases were made…

We had lunch at a really beautiful desert camp. The outdoor restaurant had an amazing ceiling. We checked out the guest rooms, which were traditional circular Kutchi mud brick construction with thatched rooves.

Later in the afternoon we went a village where they make Kantha quilts out of block-printed cottons. Really beautiful designs. Also some interesting bead work and embroidery. MUCH purchasing ensued.

Our little bus was loaded up with quilts, yoga mats, etc.

In the evening, we were scheduled to visit the famous Rann of Kutch. We had been told that the salt pans of the White Desert were still covered in rain water, but we still went. You could see a little bit of salt, but it was mostly a spooky kind of wetland with no vegetation or animal life. Quite weird. It has also been turned into a kind of selfie circus, with music and neon lights. Very disappointing.

Back late to the Bhuj branch of Fawlty Towers, where we all having a delightful time not electrocuting ourselves and losing our laundry.